Firm snow on Ralston

Location Name: 
Ralston
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 03/19/2016 - 10:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 49' 47.5176" N, 120° 5' 30.0516" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Signs of a partial refreeze observed below treeline, with variably supportive snow surfaces shortly after 8am. Near treeline S facing slopes protected from winds softened by 11am, but slopes exposed to Moderate SW winds remained firm. Snow on N aspect just below ridgeline was a mixture of cold wind buff and sastrugi. Mosquitos (yes) observed below treeline shortly after 11am a sure sign of warm temps and open water sources.

Pic 1: Runnels observed throughout travel on S aspects.

Pic 2: Large cornices still exist in this area. Hard to get a sense of scale from this photo, but shortly after photo was taken people traveled along this ridgeline and gave the impression that cornices were 20-30ft tall.

Pic 3: Recent cornice fall large enough to create this crack about 50ft above Cup Lake.

Pic 4: Glide crack showing on Pyramid Peak

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Thin, high clouds